jessica olm

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I love this time of year. It’s definitely my busiest season, full of the hustle and bustle of travel and gift shopping, (and playing in the snow, of course). V and I have started a few traditions of our own, like having a pre-holiday celebration in the mountains! This is our second year running of heading to Scribner’s Lodge in the Catskills, this time with our favorite New England brand in tow, L.L. Bean.

I love L.L.Bean’s line of sweaters this season, with classic designs and materials made to keep you toasty warm. My favorites are the Fair Isle Crewneck sweater (I have the Cream and Bean Green versions!), which is made with a thick - not itchy! - wool, and the Signature Fleece Pullover ! When we went out to make our evening s’mores, I threw on one of these and was good to go.

I also loved cozying up in our loft in this Fair Isle Washable Merino Wool Sweater. This one is soooo soft, I almost fell asleep in it! That and my Washable Wool Throw made for quite the cozy duo. I don’t know if pictures can do this room justice. We stayed in one of the Summit Kings with a loft, which was basically our own apartment! It had a huge living area, complete with a gas stove, patio, plus a loft bedroom, and reading nook! Of all the rooms we stayed in at Scribner’s, this one was by far my favorite. I loved waking up in the morning and having the mountain view right outside our window!

While exploring outside, V and I definitely needed to layer up. I’ve been LOVING the Mountain Classic Down Jacket, and have worn it skiing multiple times since this trip. It really is so warm (and bonus, waterproof)!! V brought along the TEKWool Insulated Jacket, made in the classic Black Watch Plaid. Not only is it a beautiful coat, but the insulation kept him toasty warm when we went to explore nearby Kaaterskill Falls. These will be our go-to’s for outerwear all season long! After a long day of adventures, there was nothing better than curling up by one of the lodge’s many fireplaces. It was so nice to have a couple days to ourselves, to celebrate this magical season in an equally magical setting.

A little while back I had the opportunity to hop the border north for a few days of R&R. Along the Canadian side of the Thousand Islands lies the town of Gananoque, Ontario, where the tiny home of my dreams, The Raven House, awaited.

Pete, the owner and creator behind this cozy home, met me after I rambled down the quiet drive. About 30 seconds after arriving, I figured out one of the reasons he met me on the road - there was no Raven House in sight. The tiny home was situated a few minutes walk back, on its very own “game trail”. After a few trips along the path, I came to fully appreciate this feature. The cabin never felt like it was interfering with its surroundings, if anything, it felt like it had always belonged on that spot of land.

Upon first entering the cabin, I was struck by all the natural light filtering in. Between the sliding glass doors leading to the porch, multiple windows, and skylights, the interior was so bright and inviting. The loft space was by far my favorite spot inside, and from the vantage point, it was easy to see how the cabin got its name.

My friend, Alex, was able to join me for a night, and we ended up drinking pots of tea, eating tasty treats, and catching up until the wee hours. While the cabin doesn’t have indoor plumbing or electrical, it’s outfitted with multiple lights and lanterns, and an adjoining outhouse. However, there is a gas range in the kitchen, and a wood stove that kept us toasty all night, so in a way it felt a bit like “glamping”!

I’m so happy to have had the opportunity to visit this peaceful little home. It was the perfect place to recharge my batteries and gear up for the busy Fall season! Big thank you to Pete, for inviting me to stay and showing me the wonderful cabin you created! If you’re interested in booking your own stay, head to the Airbnb listing HERE.

This post is a looooong time coming. Almost every day, I get a message asking what apps I use for my Instagram stories! I love the stories feature, and how with just a little extra effort, you can make them your own and instantly add a little something extra to a post, highlight, ad , you name it! I’ve finally compiled a list of my favorite apps that I’ve been using, and a little how-to below!

Photos Apps

VSCO

I’ve been using this app for such a long time, both for Instagram posts + stories! Before posting, it’s an easy way to enhance images - little tweaks like lightening up or sharpening an image, especially when using a photo from your phone’s camera! Plus, I like having all my photos stored in the same place.

HUJI

This app has quickly become one of my favorites, and one that I’ve been using for all my candid shots on adventures + road trips. After you take a photo, it’s “developed” just like a film shot. Different filters are applied to each image at random, so you never know exactly how it will look until you check your gallery!

Unfold

This is the app I get asked the most questions on. It’s the one I use for all my unique formats and texts. I’ve been loving the film (FF1) and ripped paper (RP1) formats!

A Color Story

This app is similar to VSCO, as it has tons of filters and effects you can apply to your photos. I especially like the “Color Fog” filter, which allows you to adjust the white balance of your shot. I use this one on my winter shots, to warm up the snow or sky!

Video Apps

kirakira

This one is PERFECT for the holiday season! It enhances all the sparkles in lighting around you (just think of it as a little extra twinkle in your twinkle lights). While I think this app really shines in its video format - see below! - you can also save stills, as well.

Werble

Another favorite app for Winter. I use this one to make weather cinemagraphs, specifically falling snow videos! There’s a ton of other filters available, so you can really get creative with this app!

8mm

My favorite app to create dreamy, vintage looking videos. There’s several options for color ways and filters, so no two videos end up looking alike! I’ve been incorporating this one a lot on road trips, to create a couple special “home movie” type videos.

Okay, guys! Hope this post was informative, and that you have a few new ideas on how to get creative with your stories! Would love to know if you end up using any of the apps, and what you think!